Chapter 22: The Plagiarism Scandal

Serenity arrived at the studio feeling lighter than usual. But the moment she stepped out of the elevator, she sensed something was wrong.

The usually busy office was dead silent. Employees were huddled in groups, whispering and looking at her with strange expressions. Some looked sympathetic, others suspicious.

"Amy? What's going on?" Serenity dropped her bag on the desk.

Amy looked like she had been crying. She shakily handed a tablet to Serenity.

"Boss... look at T*****r. It’s trending at number one."

Serenity took the tablet. The headline made her blood run cold.

[EXPOSED: Billionaire's Wife "Vera" Built Her Empire on Stolen Designs!]

"What is this?" Serenity gasped.

She clicked on the article. An anonymous account named "TruthSeeker" had posted a series of sketches. They looked almost identical to Serenity's "Tear of the Ocean" collection, the one Jackson bought for 50 million.

The post claimed: "I am a poor student. Vera hired me five years ago, stole my sketchbooks, and threatened me to keep silent. Now that she is marrying into the Sterling family, I can't stay quiet anymore! She is a fraud!"

The timestamps on the photos were seemingly dated one month before Serenity released her collection.

"Lies!" Serenity slammed the tablet down. "These are my designs! I drew them in Paris! I have the drafts!"

"We know, Boss!" Amy cried. "But the internet doesn't believe us. Look at the comments."

“I knew she was a gold digger. Now she is a thief too.”
“Jackson Sterling spent 50 million on stolen goods? Lol.”
“#BoycottVera”

The phone on her desk started ringing. It was the PR department. Suppliers. Investors. Everyone wanted an explanation.

"It's Chloe," Serenity whispered, her fists clenching until her knuckles turned white. "She is the only one who would stoop this low."

Just then, her cell phone buzzed. "Hubby" (Jackson had changed the contact name himself).

She picked up. "Jackson, I..."

"Who are we killing?"

Jackson’s voice came through the phone, calm, low, and terrifying.

Serenity blinked, holding back tears. "You... you don't ask if I did it?"

"Serenity, I slept in your bed. I watched you sketch until 2 AM," Jackson scoffed. "I know your talent better than anyone. Someone is trying to frame my wife."

"The evidence looks real," Serenity sniffed. "They have timestamps."

"Digital timestamps can be faked," Jackson said. "I have already ordered the Legal Department to issue warnings to all media outlets. But to clear your name completely, we need to find the source. We need to prove the photos are edited."

"The IT guy said the account is using a heavy proxy. We can't trace it," Serenity felt helpless. Her design career was on the line.

"My IT team is working on it, but it might take hours," Jackson paused. "Wait. Isn't there an expert closer to you?"

"Who?"

"Our son," Jackson said casually. "Alex."

Serenity’s eyes widened. "Jackson! He is five!"

"He hacked the Sterling Group firewall in three minutes while eating a cookie. Tracking a T*****r troll is child's play for him."

"I'm coming to pick you up," Jackson continued. "Don't say anything to the press. Just wait for me."

Serenity hung up. She took a deep breath, looking at the hateful comments on the screen.

Five years ago, she would have run away.
Today, she had a powerful husband behind her, and a genius son at home.

"Amy," Serenity straightened her back, her eyes cold and sharp. "Tell the staff to get back to work. We are not cancelling the launch."

"But Boss... the scandal..."

"Let them talk," Serenity smiled dangerously. "Because when the truth comes out, I want everyone who slandered me to beg for forgiveness on their knees."

She walked to the window, looking at the city below.

You want war, Chloe? Fine. The Sterlings are going to war.

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